Island



' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

"CQ A. DUNLAP.. STAGE FOUNTAIN'.

Patented Mauil 1', 1892.

-TRL-469,683.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '2.

C. A. DUNLAP. STAGE FOUNTAIN'.

N. 469.683. y Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

UNITED STATES To @ZZ whom t may concern:

- stage-fountain the discharge from which may Y bereadily controlled and varied at will, so as in constructing the support for the fountain -plan view of the fountain and the surround- PATENT OFFICE.v

CHARLES A. DUNLAP, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.'

STAG E-FOU NTAI N.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,683, dated March 1, 1892.

. Serial No. 385,935. (No model.)

Be it known that I, CHARLES A.DUNLAP, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stage-Fountains; and I do hereby declare the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

One object of rny invention is to provide a to give varying forms or outlines to said discharge, and another object is to provide a stage-fountain so constructed as to be illuminated from below, whereby novel and striking effects may be produced.

To these ends one featureof my invention consists in constructing the fountain of a series of independent rings of pipe provided with suitable discharge-orifices, each of said rings of pipe having an independent inletpipe communicating therewith, said inletpipes being in turn provided with independent valves for controlling the admission of water thereto.

Another feature of my invention consists proper so that it will be to a greater or less extent transparent or translucent and so that the play of the fountain may be illuminated vloy a light located below` the fountain and its support. p

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a central vertical section of my improved fountain mounted in place upon a stage and showing the cellar below and the arrangement of the inlet-pipes. Fig. 2 is a ing water-receptacle, with the connecting inlet-pipes in dotted lines, and showing a portion of the main supply-pipe and the operating-valves. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the frame or support for the fountain, showing the arrangement of the rings of pipe thereon; and Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views, respectively, of the two parts of the frame or support.

ct a represent a series of concentric rings of pipe, which are provided with suitable discharge-orifices a and which constitute the fountain propel', said rings being arranged one within the other, as shown in plan view, Fig. 2. These rings'of pipe may be arranged upon any suitable support, or may even be laid flat upon the stage. I prefer, however, to mount said rings upon a conical or pyramidal support, so that each of said rings will occupy a different horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 1.

b b represent inlet-pipes connecting said rings o: with the main supply-pipe A, there being as many of said inlet-pipesas there are rings, and each of said inlet-pipes communieating with a separate ring and being provided with an independent valve c, so that the supplyof water to each of said rings may .be independentlymanipulated and controlled.

B represents a tarpaulin or other suitable receptacle to receive thewater-dischargeifrom the fountain, said receptacle being provided with an outlet d, communicating with a wastepipe C, as shown in Fig. l.

By the arrangementabove described, as will be evident, the supply of water to each of the several independent rings of pipe may beindependently regulated and controlled and so that by a proper manipulation of the valves c the discharge of water from the fountain may be varied at will and varying forms and outlines be given thereto by allowing the water to be discharged from all of the rings of pipe or only from aportion thereof and by changing and varying the combinations of the rings of pipe from which the water isto be discharged.

Referring now to the second feature of my invention, D represents a frame orsupport upon which the rings of pipe may be mounted, as shown in Figs. l and 3. This support is preferably constructed in a conical or pyramidal form and so as to support the ringsvof pipe in different horizontal planes, as shown. This support consists of a frame-work composed of a base-ring e and ribs f, between which ribs are arranged panes of glass or other transparent or translucent material g, the whole composing a structure somewhat similar to an ordinaryskylight and which will serve not only to support the fountain, but also to shed the falling water. Between two of the ribs is placed a piece of sheet metal h, through which the inlet-pi pes pass, as shown IOC in Fig. 2. The support D may be constructed as a single entire structure; but I prefer to construct it in two parts D D2,-as shown in the drawings. When so constructed, thelower portion D2 is provided with a rim-piece or collar and the upper portion D' with a basering j, which fits into the collar z' and rests upon detachable projecting pins 7c, as shown in Fig. 3.

By arranging the support D over the trap or opening-in the stage and locating a light E below said opening, as shown in Fig. l, the play of the fountain will be illuminated from below, rendering it possible to'throw all the rest ofthe stage into complete darkness, the play of the fountain being alone illuminated. By the use of gelatine plates of different colors held between the transparent support and the light below a variety of coloring may be produced in the usual way, and which, coming from below andilluminating only the play of the fountain, will result in the'production of novel, striking, and beautiful effects. When in combination with this transparent support a fountain composed of a series of rings of pipe, each provided with a separate and independent inlet and controlling valve, as hereinbefore described, is employed, a great va-` riety of changes and manipulations is renf ascend through the opening thus formed and' through the circular discharge of water issuing from the remaining rings of pipe, thus producing a still further novel and striking effect. l

If desired, the main pipe A may be con- `nected with a steam-supply instead of a water-supply and so that steam will be discharged through the orifices of the fountain upon the opening of one or more of the valves, thus producing a steam effect, which may be employed to great advantage in connection with the other effects referred to.

I do not wish to limit myself to the employment of a conical or pyramidal support, nor to the arrangementcf the rings of pipe in different horizontal planes, as it is evident that the gist of my invention may be employed with a substantially Hat support and with the rings of pipe arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a stage-fountain, the combination,

with a main supply-pipe, of a series of independent concentric rings of pipe arranged one Within the other and provided with discharge-orifices and constituting the fountain proper, independent inlet-pipes` one for each of said rings and connecting said rings with the main supply-pipe, and independent valves, one for each inlet-pipe, substantially as described.

2. In a stagefountain, the combination, with a main supply-pipe, of a series of independent concentric ringsl of pipe provided with discharge-orifices and constituting the fountain proper, said rings of pipe being arranged one within the other, but in dierent horizontal planes, independent inlet-pipes, one foreach of said rings and connecting said rings with the main supply-pipe, and independent valves, one for each inlet-pipe, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a stage provided with an opening or trap, of a portable fountain located directly over said opening, anda removable transparent or translucent cover for said opening, substantially coextensive with the fountain, arranged over the'same, whereby the parts may be readily located and removed and whereby practically the entire discharge of the fountain may be directly and thoroughly illuminated from below, substantially a's described.

4. A support fora stage-fountain, composed partlyor entirely of transparent or translucent material and constructed in two parts concentrically arranged, whereby the inner portion may be removed, leaving an opening through the remaining portion, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. Thecombination of a stage-fountain composed of a series of independent concentric rings of pipe with discharge-orifices and having separate and independent inlets and controlling-valves for each of said rings of pipe, and a support therefor composed in Whole or in part of transparent or translucent material, whereby the play of said fountain may be varied and illuminated from below, substantially as described.

CHARLES A. DUNLAP. VVitnesses.

. W. II. THURsToN,

S. J. MURPHY.

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